Butler named to casino authority

Modia Butler, a partner at Mercury Public Affairs and a top political advisor to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, has been named to the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority

The authority directs the spending of a huge pot of money to fund projects in Atlantic City and across the state.

Butler was a direct appointment by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. He will serve a five-year term, replacing Gary Puma.

Before joining Mercury, Butler served as Booker’s chief of staff and spent seven years as the chairman of the Newark Housing Authority. He’s also been accompanying Booker on his national and local campaign appearances and was in Iowa this past weekend.

Butler was also a strategist for Ras Baraka’s campaign for re-election to a second term as mayor of Newark.

This week, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that would send sports betting taxes to the authority.

The authority uses parking revenues in Atlantic City to fund economic development projects. It also runs the Atlantic City Convention Center and the Historic Boardwalk Hall. They have invested more than $2 billion to grow the state’s economy and attract visitors to Atlantic City.